Searching for the one – part 6

Muna looked at the clock. It was already midnight. Adam most likely was home by now in Brooklyn. Only it would be later where he was. More like 3 am his time. She still couldn’t believe that he had just showed up at their doorstep. This was something she only read about in romance novels. Muna tried to calm her excitement and read some Quran. But she just couldn’t stop thinking about him. Why was it that older folks always lectured young teens and adults that the only way to get your mind off of things like boys was to be more involved in religious stuff? They must have forgotten how hard it is to focus when you’re smitten with someone. You can’t eat, sleep, think or do anything normal!

It was a good two days before Muna decided to give Adam a call. It was Tuesday night to be exact. She tried to figure out what time it was since there was a three hour difference. Living on the West Coast while he was all the way on the East Coast was going to be a little tricky for a long distance relationship. Time differences had a way of messing things up.

The phone rang three times, and just as Muna was about to hang up, she heard a groggy voice.
“Hello?”
“Salam, it’s me.. umm Muna…I hope I didn’t wake you up or something.” Muna’s voice cracked a bit. She was so nervous.

“Oh hey Wa Alaikum As Salam Muna! No way you didn’t wake me up at all. I mean I just fell asleep watching TV. It was a long day at work, but hey your voice is a great thing to wake up to. How have you been?” Adam asked with genuine happiness.

“I’m good.. I’m so sorry to wake you though. I can call you back at a better time tomorrow if you let me know what time is best.” Muna replied.

“Don’t even think about it”. Adam jumped in. “I’m talking to you now and that’s all that matters.” Adam started to flirt a little. “How could I not want to talk to the most beautiful girl I’ve ever laid eyes on, oh and the added bonus, she’s smart!”

Muna felt a little awkward. Was it OK for him to say these things to her? She wasn’t even engaged to the guy yet and already it seemed like there was this underlying tone of romance. Or was it sleaze? She was paranoid because she’d had her share of guys who would try to sweet talk her, when really all they were after was to flatter her enough, so that she’d marry them and they would get a Green Card.

She knew that Adam was born and raised in the U.S so that was definitely not going to be an issue. It was hard to let go of all the baggage from past experiences, but she was determined to move forward and get to know this mysterious Adam.

“So, Adam. Why don’t we get down to the nitty gritty here. Tell me a bit about yourself. I’ll be honest, I’ve had a rough time doing this whole marriage thing. And I’d like to be up front and honest from the get go.” Muna couldn’t believe she just said that. In the past she was so polite and would never stand up for herself. She usually expected her father or brothers to tell someone whether she was or wasn’t interested in pursuing things further.

Adam seemed a little startled. “Sure, that’s a great idea. I mean well what do you want to know about me?”

“I just want to know who you are.” Muna said. “What is it that makes you… you?”

“Wow that’s a pretty deep question.” Adam laughed. “Hmmm where do I begin? Do you have a few hours?” He asked her jokingly.

“I’ve got all the time in the world.” Muna replied.

Adam told Muna how he was born and raised in Reno, Nevada and that his family moved to California when he was in high school. Adam moved to New York for college and ended up staying there when he got a job straight after graduation. He worked on Wall Street doing various financial dealings for private clients. He managed to start up his own investment firm and basically did work when he felt like it. His reputation spread by word of mouth and he found himself to be fairly successful.

Little did Muna know just how successful he was. She had no idea that not only did he have a penthouse in the heart of Manhattan, but he had a private jet. It was on that private jet that he was able to get to Muna’s house so quickly and so last minute.

Muna told Adam all about her family and her three wild brothers who made her life miserable at times with their teasing and rough housing. She told him how she had been engaged twice in the past according to the community rumors, but those were not true. She had come close to getting engaged once, but her fiance-to-be was apparently already married to a woman with kids in another state, which she found out when the woman called to tell her to quote, “Stay away from my husband you home wrecker, I will not be a co-wife to anyone!”

“You know Adam, I feel like I’ve known you all my life. You are so easy to talk to.” Muna told him after they had been talking for almost three and a half hours.

“Muna I couldn’t agree with you more.” Adam said. “I’m so glad my mom noticed you at the Masjid for Eid prayer. She told me she saw a girl who had something sparkle about her personality and she was so right. Small world huh? I guess she knows your mom through social gatherings.”

“Oh really?” Muna was surprised. She didn’t think her mother knew his parents because the Muslim community in her town was so large and there were 5 different masjids that it was hard to run into the same people all the time. “That’s pretty neat, I’ll have to let her know.” Muna said.

That night or rather morning, Muna fell asleep with her heart feeling full. It used to feel empty and alone, but now her heart was content. She couldn’t wait to talk to Adam again. He had mentioned that he’d like for their families to formally meet and was hoping to do it within the next few days.

Muna was flattered that he was so into her and she was starting to feel excited about the topic of marriage. It had been a long time since she felt this and she couldn’t wait to see where this relationship was headed.

Mariam~ That would be nice, no one would complain, everyone loving this story. I am not trying to complain about the length, I guess suspense can be a form of pleasure otherwise why do we read suspense and watch these kind of movies if we don’t like it. This story has a great form to it. I can relate to the green card stuff…before I met my husband there were a few guys who I was like..yeah I am on to you. I was relieved when I met my husband and I could tell he was genuine and I was crazy about him, still am after 5 years! The whole private jet, wall street man…that is great fiction for most of us I think…Muna looks like she is getting it all, ah amore!